Punching machine with detachable tool holder



PUNCHING MACHINE WITH DETAGHABLE TOOL HOLDER Original Filed Nov. 1, 1960 Sept. 6, 1966 A. K. SCHOTT ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS w 4, i w mz C 5 E J 6 MN. #5 2 u 4%:

M,%Z,, 714 a #M ATTORNEY A. K. SCHOTT ETAL 3,270,605

PUNCHING MACHINE WITH DETACHABLE TOOL HOLDER Sept. 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed NOV. 1, 1960 INVENTORS MI/K46.) Z56 Eovo DT 57 flan 4 M ATTORNEY INVENTOR5 PUNCHING MACHINE WITH DETACHABLE TOOL HOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I7] HI H II IIITI 11111 A. K. SCHOTT ETAL Sept. 6, 1966 Original Filed Nov. 1, 1960 n m MM 0 w 5 M&

e F; a E 4 Sept. 6, 1966 A. K. SCHOTT ETAL 3,270,605

PUNCHING MACHINE WITH DETACHABLE TOOL HOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Nov. 1, 1960 FiG.

INVENTOR5 6%.42455 lee IOVOLDT EY 44 a a ATTORN 5% M r I f United States Patent 3,270,605 PUNCHING MACHINE WITH DETAEHABLE TOOL HOLDER Arthur K. Schott, Clarence, Kenneth J. Eartha, Tonawanda, and Charles Lee Rovoldt, Getzville, N.Y., assignors to Hondaille Industries, Inc, Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Michigan Original application Nov. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 66,639, new Patent No. 3,225,636. Divided and this application Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 449,253

19 Claims. (Cl. 83522) This application is a division of our co-pending application of the same title, U.S. Serial No. 66,639, filed November 1, 1960, now Patent No. 3,225,636.

This invention relates generally to punching machines, and more specifically to an improved punching machine embodying novel detachable upper tool support structure.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various punching machines and devices, a particularly useful application is made in a punching machine of the type that acts on a single workpiece, the workpiece being positioned by either adjustable gaging carried on the machine, or by a template follower, the machine being provided with appropriate punch and die means for effecting punching, notching, and nibbling on the workpiece.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of a pair of pivotable clamping mechanisms by which a tool support is maintained and returned, when removed, to a position of alignment with other tooling, to a position corresponding to its own prior position, and to a position wherein relationships established by the gaging mechanism is maintained. The electrical control circuit is provided with interlock means between it and the means by which the punch and die means are aligned to insure that the machine may only be operated when everything is in proper adjustment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel clamping structure for a tool support which structure maintains various relationships between .features of the punching machine of this invention.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel clamping structure.

Many other advantages, features, and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a punching machine provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the punching machine of FIGURE 1 with certain parts removed therefrom;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a punch and die mechanism, the die being supported by an adaptor;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of FIGURE 1 showing a clamping mechanism;

FIGURE 5 shows the structure of FIGURE 4 with the major components thereof disconnected;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 corresponds to FIGURE 6 with the components illustrated in the position that they are placed immediately prior to a disconnection such as shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7.

"ice

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a punching machine such as illustrated in FIGURE 1, generally indicated by the numeral 30. The machine 30 includes a rigid frame 31 of both hollow and C-shaped construction having an upper arm 31a and a lower arm 31b. The lower arm 31b is provided with a pair of bases 32, 32 which support the frame 31 on the floor. Also prominent in FIGURE 1 is a horizontal workpiece-supporting table 33. To the table 33 there is secured adjustable gaging means generally indicated at 34. Certain components of the device are covered by an upper shroud 35 and a lower shroud 36, a control panel 37 being secured to the upper arm 31.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is shown a front elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 1 wherein the upper shroud 35, the control panel 37, the lower shroud 36, and the gaging 34 have been removed for clarity of illustration. On the lower arm 31b of the frame 31 there is provided a bed 38 on which tooling means such as the die 39 are supported. In alignment with the die 39, there is a punch and stripping assembly generally indicated at 40 which is supported by an upper tool support generally indicated at 41 which is secured to the frame 31 by a pair of clamping mechanisms generally indicated at 42 and 43. The upper tool support 41 comprises a generally U-shaped member or yoke having spaced arms 41a, 41b extending along opposite sides of the stool 40 supported on a bight 410 which connects the arms 41a and 41b.

Also disposed between the arms 41a and 41b is a ram 44 which is reciprocably driven. A motor operates continuously through belts to drive a pulley-flywheel assembly 45 which includes an eccentric 46 which continually reciprocates a shaft 47. The continuously reciprocating shaft 47 is selectably connected to the ram 44 by an electrically actuated press clutch 48.

There is provided additional structure such as shown in FIGURE 3 which is particularly adapted to use smaller sized punches. This structure includes an additional upper tool support 132 having arms 132a and 132b extending upwardly on opposite sides of the ram 48, and having a bight portion 13 20 which receives and slidably supports a punch and stripper assembly 133.

The small dies may also be employed with relatively smaller punches by placing an adapter ring 149 in the nest defined by the cylindrical member 73 and slidable element 75. The outer periphery of the adapter member 149 is substantially similar to that of the die 39. The adapter ring 149 is provided with a die seat 1491: in which a slidably removable die 150 is received. The die 150 has an oval aperture corresponding to the lower end of the pun-ch. The die 150 is provided with a radially extending key 151 which is received within a keyway 152 in the die adapter 149. A second keyway 153 is also provided in the die adapter. Since the aperture in the workpiece-sup porting table 33 is relatively large compared to the size of the aperture in the die 150, there is also provided a filler plate 154, shown resting on the adapter 149, the filler plate 154 jointly with the table 33 and the die 150 providing a substantially smooth support surface for the workpiece.

The upper end or supporting portions of the upper tool supports 132 and 41 are identical, and the structure employed on the right arms 13217 and 41b is a mirror image of that employed on the left arms 132a and 41a. Thus in FIGURES 4-8 there is shown one clamping mechanism by which the upper tool support is located, guided, clamped, aligned, and pivoted.

Thus the clamping mechanism 42 illustrated in FIG- URES 4-8 is representative of all such structure included in the punching machine of this invention. However,

it is to be understood that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, two such structures are employed which are not concentric with each other, each of which is individually manually detachable and pivotable.

Each of the clamping mechanisms, such as 42, is secured to the frame 31a and is individually and jointly releasable. As shown in FIGURE 4, the clamping mechanism receives and clamps mating structure of the upper tool support 41a, presently to be described, and in a similar manner, mating structure of the upper tool support 132 is received and clamped.

When the clamping structure 42 is manually released, as shown in FIGURE 5, the mating structure of the upper tool support may be removed and reinserted. The details by which clamping and release are effected are best shown in FIGURES 6-8. The clamping mechanism 42 includes a handle-lever 155 having a handle portion 155a rigidly secured as by welding to a lever portion 15512. The handle-lever is pivoted to the frame 31a, also termed herein a member, by a pivot pin 156 for pivoting about an axis which in this embodiment is vertical. There is also included a slidable floating hook 157 which has a hook end 157a which is movable into and out of engagement with a support pin 158 which comprises part of the mating structure of the upper tool support 41. FIGURE 6 illustrates how the hook end 157a clamps the support pin 158 into engagement with the end of a slot in the frame 31a. As best seen in FIGURE 7, the hook 157 is slidable to a position shown in solid lines where the hook end 157a is both released from the support pin 158 and is displaced away from the slot into the frame so that the tool support arm 41a may be removed therefrom, from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. Similarly, FIGURE 7 illustrates the position taken by the tool support after it has been reinserted into the frame slot, immediately prior to its being clamped. In order to effect such movement of the hook, cam means are provided which coact between the handle-lever 155 and the hook 157. In this embodiment, the cam means comprises a disc-like cam 159 secured to the handlelever 155 by any convenient means, a screw being shown for such purpose only in FIGURE 8. The disc-like cam 159 has its center disposed laterally of the pivoting axis of the pin 156 so that the outer periphery of the disc-like cam is responsive to pivoting of the handle-lever 155. The hook 157 at the end remote from the hook end 157a is provided with a recess or aperture in which the disc-like cam 159 is received. Thus the inner surface on the hook which defines suchrecess is in effect a cammed surface which is engaged by the cam 159 to regulate hook movement to effect clamping and detaching relation between the hook end 157a and the support pin 158.

When it is desired to release the clamping mechanism from the position shown in FIGURE 6, the handle-lever 155 is pivoted about the axis of the pin 156. During approximately the first half of the pivotal movement of the handle-lever, the disc-like cam 159 applies a lateral force to the hook 157 at the end remote from the hook end 157a to cause it to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 6, the pivoting being about an axis on or in the pin 158. Since the disc-like cam moves in an are, there is also a displacement simultaneously of the hook 157 in a direction which disengages the hook end 157a, as shown in broken lines on FIGURE 7. This displacement continues until an abutment 160 on the hook 157 engages a fulcrum means or pin 161 carried by the frame 31a. Further counterclockwise movement of the handle-lever 155 causes the disc-like cam 159 to act on the hook at a point between the fulcrum pin 161 and the axis of the pin 156, thereby causing the hook to pivot about the fulcrum pin 161 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 7. It is thus apparent that this latter movement is in a direction transverse to the initial disengaging movement of the hook 157. Thus the transverse shift of the hook end is effected by engagement between the fulcrum pin 161 and the abutment on the hook 157, the fulcrum pin 161 being located laterally of the hook member 157 and being engaged thereby after the hook end 157 has disengaged the support pin 158.

The support pin 158 is rotatably supported by bearing means 162 in the upper tool support 41, and the frame 31a is cut back as at 163, so that when one of the clamping mechanisms is released, the other clamping mechanism serves as a pivotal connection, thereby permitting the tool support which is released at one of its arms to pivot about the support pin 158 at the other of its arms. Thus the position of the structure indicated by solid lines in FIGURE 7 permits the tool support 41 to pivot about the clamping mechanism 43 shown in FIGURE 2. When both clamping mechanisms are released, the tool support may be removed as a unit. Conversely when the clamping mechanism 43 is released, the tool support 41 may be pivoted about the support pin 158 when the parts are dispose-d as shown in FIGURE 6. Such alternative pivoting is particularly advantageous for various operators of the machine who may be respectively righthanded or left-handed, the pivoting being performed to swing the punch and stripper assembly out from under the ram 48 to permit substitution of other punch components.

The frame 31a is provided with a horizontal g-roove 164 within which the handle-lever 155 and the hook 157 are disposed. The groove 164 is intersected by the slot 165 into which the support pin 158 is received. Since there are two clamping mechanisms 42, 43, and since each has a slot 165 spaced apart by a fixed distance, the tool support is constructed with two support pins 158 spaced apart a like distance. Each of the clamping mechanisms is provided with a support pad 166 arranged in coplanar relation with each other against which a surface 167 of the tool support 41 engages and rests.

The clamping mechanisms 42, 43 with their mating structures comprise pivotal connections between the frame 31a and the tool support. This particular clamping mechanism thus accurately aligns and locates the tool support in a predetermined position for maintaining its relationship, and hence the angular relationship of a shaped punch supported thereon, with the gaging structure 34 secured to the workpiece-supporting table 33. While the slots 165 in the frame 31a receive and guide the support pins 158, the frame acting through the support pads 166 also supports the tool support 41, even though both clamping mechanisms 42, 43 may be in a released position. When the clamping mechanisms are thus tightened, the tool support is guided thereby to a position of accurate alignment with respect to the ram, in which position the clamping mechanism reestablishes the alignment between the punch and the die, and reestablishes the distances between the centerline of the punch and die means and the various reference surfaces in the gaging.

When it is desired to vreclamp the support pin 158, the handle-lever 155 is moved from the solid line position shown in FIGURE 7 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIGURE 6. During the initial part of that movement, the cam 159 pivots the hook 157 about the fulcrum pin 161 to swing the hook into the position shown in broken lines. Further pivoting of the handle-lever 155 effects a further sliding of the hook into embracing engagement about the pin 158, and simultaneously, a disengagement of the fulcrum pin 161 so that the hook 157 pivots on the support pin 158 during the latter part of the hook movement. The handle-lever 155 has an adjustable finger 168 which engages a roller 169 on a plunger 170 of an electric switch 171. The switch 171 is normally open, such as in FIGURE 5, and when the handle-lever 155 is placed in a clamped position as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, the finger 168 raises the plunger 170 to close the switch 171. Such a switch is provided for each clamp mechanism 42, 43 and is included in the electrical control circuit, thereby insuring against its operation when either clamp mechanism is not fully closed.

Although various min-or modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A punching machine including a stationary frame having a bed, a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively driven toward and from said bed, and a single upper tool support, said bed and said tool support being adapted to support selectively replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means both in the direction of reciprocation and in accurate alignment, a pair of connections having separate axes fixedly securing said tool support to said frame, at least one of said connections including means by which the same is readily individually detachable, and said means being operative when reattached to guide the tool support into the position where said accurate alignment of said tool means is present.

2. A punching machine comprising in combination: a stationary frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; and a tool support; a pair of individually detachable non-concentric pivotal connections fixedly securing said tool support to said frame, said tool support being pivotable about either one of said pivotal connections on said frame when the other of said pivotal connections is detached, said tool support and said bed being constructed to support slidably-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram,

3. A punching machine comprising in combination: a stationary frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a yoke having spaced arm extending along opposite sides of said ram; and means comprising a pair of individually detachable pivotal connections respectively fixedly securing each of said arms to said frame; said yoke and said bed being constructed to support slidably-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram, and said yoke being pivotable about either one of said pivotal connections on said frame when the other of said pivotal connections is detached.

4. A punching machine comprising in combination: a stationary frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a pair of clamping mechanisms secured to and supported by said frame and each operative to receive and clamp mating structure of an upper tool support constructed to support and to locate various punches one at a time; each of said clamping mechanisms with the mating structure clamped thereby comprising also a pivotal connection between the tool support and said frame about which said tool support may be pivoted; said bed being constructed to support directly selectively replaceable die means in alignment with any punch held by said upper tool support.

5. A punching machine comprising in combination: a stationary frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a single upper tool support having a connection with said frame, said connection having means by which the same is readily manually detachable; a die member supported on said bed; said tool support slidably receiving as a unit, beneath said ram, a punching and stripping assembly in alignment with said die; said connection means constructed upon being reattached to return said tool support precisely to its previous position to reestablish said punch and die alignment.

6. A punching machine comprising in combination:

a stationary frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support having a pair of manually-detchable non-concentric pivotal connections with said frame; a die member supported on said bed; said tool support slidably receiving beneath said ram a punching and stripping assembly in alignment with said die; each of said connections being constructed, when only the other of said connections is disengaged, to pivotally support said tool support on said frame to enable free pivoting of said tool support to a position where said punch and die are outof alignment; and each of said connections being constructed upon both being reattached jointly to reestablish said punch and die alignment.

7. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a pair of clamping mechanisms secured to said frame and adapted to receive and selectively clamp mating structure of a first upper tool support constructed to support and to locate various large diameter punches one at a time, or mating structure of a second upper tool support constructed to support and to locate various small diameter punches one at a time; each of said clamping mechanisms with the mating structure clamped thereby comprising also a pivotal connection between the tool support and said frame 'by which said tool support may be pivoted on said frame; said bed being adapted to support directly selectively replaceable die means in alignment with any punch held by said first upper tool support, and to support directly an adapter constructed to support directly selectively replaceable die means in alignment with any punch held by said second upper tool support.

8. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; an electric circuit operative to control the movement of said ram; a clamping mechanism secured to said frame and operative in a non-clamping position to receive and operative in a clamping position to clamp mating structure of an upper tool support to said frame, said tool support being constructed to support and to locate various punches one at a time; said bed being adapted to support directly selectively replaceable die means in alignment with any punch held by said upper tool support; and an electric switch responsive to a position of said clamping mechanism. and operative to hold said circuit open whenever said clamping mechanism is not fully in said clamped position.

9. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; an electric circuit operative to control the movement of said ram; a pair of clamping mechanisms secured to said frame and operative in a non-clamping position to receive and operative in a clamping position to clamp mating structure of an upper tool support to said frame, said tool support being constructed to support and to locate various punches one at a time; said bed being adapted to support directly selectively replaceable die means in alignment with any punch held by said upper tool support; and an electric switch for each of said clamping mechanisms; each switch being responsive to the position of the corresponding clamping mechanism and operative to open said circuit when said clamping mechanis-m is not in its fully clamped position.

10. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support; means on said frame remote from said bed and ram and on said tool support for supporting said tool support on said frame, said means being also operative to guide said tool support into a predetermined fixed position of accurate alignment with and spaced from said ram; a pair of individually manually releasable mechanisms clamping said tool support to said frame in said fixed position; said tool support and said bed being constructed to support slidably-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

11. A punching machine comprising in combination: a fixed frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a horizontally directed table supported on said frame in a laterally fixed position for supporting a workpiece; a tool support having a manually detachable connection with said frame by which said tool support is held in a fixed position; a die member supported on said bed; said fixed tool support slidably receiving beneath said ram a punching and stripping assembly in alignment with said die; adjustable gaging means secured to said table and having reference surfaces for abutting engagement by edges of the workpiece for gaging the distances between said reference surfaces and the centerline of said punching and stripping assembly; said detachable connection being constructed upon being reattached to precisely return said punching and stripping assembly to said fixed position in alignment with said die, and to reestablish the distances between said reference surfaces and said centerline.

12. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a horizontally directed table supported on said frame in a laterally fixed position for supporting a workpiece; a tool support having a pair of manuallydetachable nonconcentric-pivotal connections With said frame; a die member supported on said bed; said tool support slidably receiving beneath said ram a punching and stripping assembly in alignment with said die; adjustable gaging means secured to said table and having reference surfaces for abutting engagement by edges of the workpiece for gaging the distances between said reference surfaces and the centerline of said punching and stripping assembly; each of said connections being constructed, when only the other of said connections is disengaged, to pivot said tool support on said frame; and said connections being constructed, upon both being reattached, jointly to return precisely said punching and stripping assembly to its previous position in alignment with said die, and to reestablish the distances between said reference surfaces and said centerline.

13. A punching machine comprising in combination: a fixed frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame in a fixed position by means including a support pin carried by said tool support, a handle-lever pivoted on said fixed frame about an axis parallel to said support pin, a separate floating hook slidable into and out of engagement with said support pin for clamping said support pin against said frame, and cam means responsive to pivoting of said handle-lever and engageable with said hook for regulating movement of said hook; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectively-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

14. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame by means including a support pin rotatably carried by said tool support, a handle-lever pivoted to said frame about an axis parallel to said support pin, a separate floating hook slidable into and out of engagement with said support pin for clamping said support pin against said frame, and cam means responsive to pivoting of said handle-lever and engageable with said hook for regulating movement of said hook selectively into clamping and detaching relation to said support pin; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectivelyreplaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram; said tool support being pivotable as a unit about said support pin on said frame for effecting replacement of the tool means therein.

15. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame by means including'a support pin carried by said tool support; a handle-lever pivoted on said frame about an axis parallel to that of said support pin; a cam secured to said handle-lever for joint movement and having a camming surface eccentric to the pivotal axis of said handle-lever; a separate hook-member having a hook-end slidable into and out of engagement with said support pin for clamping said support pin against said frame, said hook-member having a cammed surface engaged by said camming surface, said hook-member being responsive to pivoting of said handle-lever and being regulated thereby into clamping and released relations to said support pin; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectively-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

16. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame by means including a support pin carried by said tool support; a handle-lever pivoted on said frame about an axis parallel to that of said support pin; a disc-like cam secured to said handle-lever for joint movement and having a peripheral camming surface eccentric to the pivotal axis of said handle-lever; a separate hook-member having a recess receiving said disc-like cam and defined by an internal cammed surface engaged by said camming surface, said hook-member having a hook-end and being slidable in response to pivoting of said handle-lever in such a manner that said hook-end is movable into and out of a clamping relation with said support pin, by which said support pin is clamped to and released from said frame; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectively-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

17. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame by means including a support pin carried by said tool support; a handle-lever pivoted on said frame about an axis parallel to that of said support pin; a separate hook-member slidably supported by said frame; cam means responsive to pivoting of said handle-lever and engageable with said hook-member and operative to effect sliding movement thereof, said hook-member having a hook-end operative in response to said sliding movement selectively to clamp said support pin against said frame and to release it; and fulcrum means on said frame and disposed to engage said hook-member when said hookmember is in a released position to effect pivoting thereof in which said hook-end is shifted transversely to the clamping direction thereof; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectively-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

18. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame by means including a support pin carried by said tool support; a handle-lever pivoted on said frame about an axis p rallel to that of said support pin; a separate hook-member slidably supported by said frame; cam means responsive to pivoting of said handle-lever and engageable with said hook-member and operative to effect sliding movement thereof, said hook-member having a hook-end operative in response to said sliding movement selectively to clamp said support pin against said frame and to release it; a fulcrum pin carried by said frame laterally of said hook-member; and an abutment on said hook-member remote from said hook-end and engageable with said fulcrum pin after a predetermined amount of disengaging movement to shift said hook-end in a direction transverse to said disengaging movement in response to further pivoting of said handle-lever; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectively-replaceable relatively-reciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

19. A punching machine comprising in combination: a frame having a bed; a movable ram carried by said frame and adapted to be selectively moved toward and from said bed; a tool support detachably secured to said frame by means including a support pin carried by said tool support; a handle-lever pivoted on said frame about an axis parallel to that of said support pin; a separate hook-member slidably supported by said frame; cam

means responsive to pivoting of said handle-lever and engageable with said hook-member and operative to effect sliding movement thereof, said hook-member having a hook-end operative in response to said movement selectively to clamp said support pin against said frame and to release it; and fulcrum means on said frame engageable and disengageable with said hook-member; said hook-member being engageable with and pivotable about a point on said support pin when disengaged from said fulcrum means, and pivotable about said fulcrum means when engaged therewith; said tool support and said bed being adapted to support selectively-replaceable relativelyreciprocable cooperating punch and die tool means in alignment with said ram.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,694 11/1895 Stimpson 83-698 651,060 6/1900 Tongas 83-635 2,320,205 5/ 1943 Wales 83522 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. L. B. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PUNCHING MACHINE INCLUDING A STATIONARY FRAME HAVING A BED, A MOVABLE RAM CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND ADPATED TO BE SELECTIVELY DRIVEN TOWARD AND FROM SAID BED, AND A SINGLE UPPER TOOL SUPPORT, SAID BED AND SAID TOOL SUPPORT BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SELECTIVELY REPLACEABLE RELATIVELY-RECIPROCABLE COOPERATING PUNCH AND DIE TOOL MEANS BOTH IN THE DIRECTION OF RECIPROCATION AND IN ACCURATE ALIGNMENT, A PAIR OF CONNECTIONS HAVING SEPARATE AXES FIXEDLY SECURING SAID TOOL SUPPORT TO SAID FRAME, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONNECTIONS INCLUDING MEANS BY WHICH THE SAME IS READILY INDIVIDUALLY DETACHABLE, AND SAID MEANS BEING OPERATIVE WHEN REATTACHED TO GUIDE THE TOOL SUPPORT INTO THE POSITION WHERE SAID ACCURATE ALIGNMENT OF SAID TOOL MEANS IS PRESENT. 